13 new lifesavers on the streets of Welshpool

An initiative to train up Welshpool residents to save lives has revealed that 13 people have come through its latest free course.

Welshpool Rotaract has an ongoing community programme to train as many people as possible in the basic lifesaving skills of how to perform good and effective Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how to use one of the public access defibrillators in the wall mounted boxes around the town.

The 13 local people undertook their 2.5hr session and learned what to do in the event of a cardiac arrest. Rotaract said they would like to thank the management of The Royal Oak Hotel for the use of the Powis Suite to run the session.

Welshpool Rotaract work with Welsh Ambulance Community Responders’ Effie Cadwallader to deliver the practical session with dummies and training defibrillators to give the attendees the confidence and the skills to sustain life until the paramedics arrive.

The community project aims to train ordinary people in villages, church halls, pubs and schools in and around Welshpool on how to become ‘lifesavers’ in their own communities before the ambulance arrives.

“After the training session, all are equipped with the skill, but more importantly, the confidence of how to use the defibrillators,” said a spokesperson.

If you wpuld like to host your own session in your community, contact Mike Lade on 07803 038858, welshpoolrotaract@gmail.com or through www.welshpoolrotaract.com.

The new Rotaract club welcomes anyone who wishes to drop in to a meeting to learn more. They meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at The Old Bakehouse at 6.30pm for 7pm, but always check as they also have social evenings at other places.